Answers to some questions from Costco Wholesale shoppers

This Boskovich Farms Organic Baby Spinach, sold at Costco Wholesale, is triple washed, but shoppers have to hunt for the words around a small faucet on the back label.

The 2.5 pound bag of regular spinach from the same grower is also triple washed.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

In all the years I've been buying Earthbound Farm's Organic Spring Mix at Costco Wholesale, I relied on the pre-washing mentioned on the label to cut the time it takes to put a healthy meal on the table.

In the past, the spring mix was "triple washed," but the 1-pound package I bought at my Hackensack Costco today says it is "pre-washed."

I continue to transfer the greens directly into my salad bowl or onto a sandwich for other family members without washing them.

Earlier, I said Boskovich Farms Organic Baby Spinach from California wasn't pre-washed, but that was because I missed the small faucet and the words "triple washed" on the back label.

Costco's broccoli florets were grown in Mexico.

A reader sent in a comment about finding organic broccoli from China at Costco, but I've never seen that at my Hackensack store.

Today, I looked at the label of a 3-pound bag of conventional Eat Smart Broccoli Florets and noticed the words "Product of Mexico." 

Sodium bisulfite is added to this big lobster tail as a preservative.

I also got a comment from a shopper who said the jumbo lobster tail he bought at Costco had a strong smell of ammonia when he cooked it.

The label at Costco lists sodium bisulfite as a preservative.  I've never purchased or cooked that lobster tail.

Today, I bought previously frozen sea scallops for $13.99 a pound at Costco (U-10 or under 10 to the pound, the largest available). 

These are "dry" scallops from the U.S., and no preservatives are used.

A new item at Costco is a hot turkey and provolone sandwich.

 
One question I can't answer is why Costco doesn't sell freshly brewed coffee at its food counter or even have a small Starbucks outpost in the store.

I'm also puzzled by two customers who changed their mind at the last minute today, and placed large packages of hot dogs and sweet peppers on the floor under checkout counters.

Vegetable stew, guacamole and rising prices

Image via Wikipedia

Wholly Guacamole is packed with avocados.

I keep on discovering new items and old favorites at Costco in Hackensack that help me forget I haven't eaten meat or poultry for more than a year.

A new favorite is Stonewall Kitchen Old Farmhouse Vegetable Stew, packed with potato and carrot chunks, and peas and other veggies that are fresh-tasting and firm to the bite. The ingredient label lists 10 vegetables, plus herbs and spices.

The delicious, milky looking broth contains no dairy. Two 20-ounce portions were $7.99, and they can be frozen.

An item I tried a couple of years ago is appearing more frequently at meals after my son fell in love with the guacamole at Rosa Mexicano in Hackensack, where the appetizer is prepared table-side. The restaurant's guacamole is priced at $12, but contains only two avocados.

Costco's Wholly Guacamole claims to have 15 Hass avocados "in every batch" or five in each of the three 16-ounce portions. It's a much better deal.

Check out the ingredient list: Hass avocados, jalapeno puree, dehydrated onion, salt, granulated garlic. That's it. And it's made in Mexico. I paid $8.49, and it's enough for three meals, plus it can be frozen.

I serve the guacamole after adding a liberal amount of Goya's spicy Salsa Taquera, though you can use chunky salsa or any other hot sauce.

Image by saguayo via Flickr

Rising prices

Costo's prices are trending upward for its own Kirkland Signature brand of smoked wild salmon and 100% whole grain bread.

Now, a pound of Boskovich Farms' organic spinach has jumped to $4.49, from $3.79; and three, long gourmet cucumbers went up 20 cents, to $3.99. 

I've also noticed substantial hikes -- about $2 -- in the price of apples and other fruit sold in 4- or 5-pound packages. 

Other items, such as 2 pounds of salted pollock from China for $6.39, have held the line. Frozen Pacific cod was $14.99 for 2 pounds, just under the price for fresh fillets you sometimes find in the fish case.

Two pounds of Sunset-brand Roma and Campari tomatoes have held steady at $4.99 and $5.49, respectively.  The price is high, but the tomato taste is intense.

Triple washed is good enough for me

Image by thebittenword.com via Flickr

If you prepare family meals five or six times a week, as we do, convenience and speed are paramount. My wife and I don't have the time or patience to use long, elaborate recipes for dinner.

Two of the most convenient products I know are Earthbound Farm Organic Spring Mix and Boskovich Farms Organically Grown Baby Spinach, both sold at Costco and both pre-washed, so I don't have to use a salad spinner.

I literally grab some and place it in the bowl for an instant salad with my own prepared dressing, which I keep in the refrigerator. 

The triple-washed spinach makes a fine addition to pasta with garlic, anchovies and grated cheese. (The base of the sauce is chicken stock.)

For dinner tonight, I baked almost two pounds of fresh Pacific True Cod Fillets I bought at Costco in Hackensack on Sunday for $6.99 a pound, prepared instant mash potatoes and dressed a spinach salad. The meal was on the table in under 30 minutes.

On Sunday night, I marinated a pound and a half of farmed Tiger Prawns, also from Costco, then sauteed them with garlic and extra-virgin olive oil for about five minutes. I served them with Costco guacamole topped by Goya Salsa Taquera, leftover organic spinach-and-cheese ravioli and a spinach salad. 

The U-15 prawns come cleaned (under 15 to the pound) and cost $9.99 a pound.

A pound of organic baby spinach is $3.99. The last time I bought the organic spring mix at Costco, it was $4.79 or $4.99 -- still the lowest retail price I have found.